This publication provides an assessment of the agriculture, natural resources, and rural development sector in the Lao People's Democratic Republic and explains the country's and the Asian Development Bank's strategic investment priorities.

NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR (2 January 2019) — The Asian Development Bank signed an agreement on 21 December 2018 to provide a $10 million equity investment to Ascent Myanmar Growth Fund I LP, a Myanmar-focused private equity fund, to provide much-needed capital investment for the growth and expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the Southeast Asian country.

HA NOI, VIET NAM (12 December 2018)— The Asian Development Bank and Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), the country’s largest commercial bank by assets, today signed a $300 million loan agreement to support the growth and productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises in Viet Nam.